Apparatus for reclaiming waste rubber.



PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

' R. SOLLIDAY. APPARATUS FOR REULAIMING WASTE RUBBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYl, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE Nok'ms PETER: cm, wAsHmanm, n. c.

RHKIKL PATENTED DEC. 1a, 1906.

E. SOLLIDAY. APPARATUS FOR REULAIMING WASTE RUBBER.

AYPLIGATION FILED HAY 1,1906.

sums-31mm 2.

No. 838,756. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

1 Y B. R. SOLLIDAY.

APPARATUS FOR REGLAIMING WASTE RUBBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD R. SOLLIDAY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING WASTE RUBBER. 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May l, 1906. Serial No. 314,650.

Patented Dec.18, 1906.

. which form a part of this specification My invention relates to reclaiming waste rubber.

I It has for its object to remove sand, metal,

and other foreign substances from waste rubber after the same has been made into "cracked stock or after the waste rubber has been ground orpartially groundbefore or mechanically separated from the waste rubber or after the stock has been treated chemically for the destruction of the fiber.

, To such end. the invention involves carrying thestock through a body of water by means of rotating paddle-wheels or their equivalent rotated at such speed as to permit particles of sand,.metal, and other for eign substances to settle and deposit upon the floor of the water-trough-at or adjacent to. the, paddle-wheels or their equivalent, from which the accumulation of sand, metal, and such particles of' rubber as may be mixed therewith is removed, as may become necessary or desirable. i

"The preferred construction comprises a 1 number of paddle-wheels disposed through-v out the trough in proximity to each other, so that the sand,'m.etal, and other foreign substances will settle. and deposit on the bottom of the trough in the spacevbetween the paddle-wheels, together. with such particles of rubber as may settle therewith; I

'It also comprises the provisiono'f means for removal of'the accumulations of deposit without the necessity of removing the paddle-wheels or their equivalentmiln stead of paddle-wheels'there may be employed endless scrapers passing around-rolls or wheels, the flights or-scrapers where they pass around the rolls or wheels serving the purpose andwheels serving to movethe stock through discharging the function of the paddlewheels and at points between the rolls or.

the trough, the deposit taking place between i the rolls or wheels of the adjacent flight conveyers. The floor or bottom of the trough may be more or less inclined to have a fall or descent from the receiving endtcward the discharge end of the trough or to have an ascent or rise from the receiving toward the discharge end of the trough, or it may be substantially level. 3

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear the invention will now be described l in its preferred as well as in some of its modified forms, and also its details, and then sought to be clearly defined by the claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which-- after the fiber has been wholly orin part Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through a trough embodying one form o fthe invention; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal sec tion of a portion of a trough, on a'larger scale,

showing hinged gates for removal of deposits Figs. 3 and 4, vertical longitudinal sections of portions of a trough, showing depositremoving tubes; Fig. 5, a vertic al crosssection through the trough; Fig. 6, a vertical section through one of the depositafemoving tubes, on a larger scale,"showi'rfg'parts of the trough; Fig. 7, a vertical cross -section through a"'trough, showing a modified .re- I volving form of deposit-removi1*ig" tube, a portion of the tube being in section. Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical longitudinal sections Fig. 8 the tube in its open position an in Fig. 9 in its closed position." 'Figs. 10, 11, and 12. are vertical longitudinal sections showing diagrammatically modified forms of stock-moving carriers or devices: Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-section through a trough with a false bottom. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a portion of a'trough, showing oneset of false-bottom plates.'=" Fig. -15 isa longitudinal section through oneof the plates. Fig.

16 isa section of a'portionof a trough, showing how the false-bottom plates maybe set crosswise instead of lengthwise of the trough. Fig. 17 is a similarviewshowing the false bottom formed of frames with strands of i ir'fiiim' through aportion ofthe trough, showing 1n wire, and Fig. 18 is a plan view of such a conand is discharged at the end of the trough by struction with the frames arranged longitul the ordinary endless carrier.

When the acdinally instead of transversely of the trough. cumulation of foreign matter is to be removed,

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a trough of a suitable length, width, and

depth, depending on the capacity for the work to be done and the bottom or floor of which may be substantially level or inclined more or less, although illustrated as substantially level, and which has an inclined chute 2 at its receiving end for the stock and at its opposite end with an endless-conveyer inclined platform 3, the conveyer consisting of sprocket-chains 4, connected together by angle-bars 5, provided with flights 6, preferably of wood, the chains passing around sprocketwheels '7 and 8 on shafts 9 and 10, one of which shafts-for instance, shaft 10-may have a suitablecrive-pulley. v (Notshown) Only one trough is illustrated; but there will be used as many as desired and arranged in any order desired, so that one will discharge into another as usual in this art. Within the trough 1 are suitably j ournaled a number of paddle-wheels 12, preferably by having their shafts 1 3 resting in open journal-boxes 14, so

that when desired the paddle-wheels may be lifted out of place. These'paddle-wheels are composed of side arms 15, connected tol gether by blades 16 of any suitable form and material and set at the angle desired, although illustrated as made of wood. These paddle-wheels, as shown in Fig. ,1, extend from one end of the trough to the other, although they may be otherwise arranged,

- and are quite close together, and each is pro- .from which it derives motion.

vided. with a sprocket-wheel 17 on its shaft, so as to derive motion from the sprocketchain 18, which engages each wheel and the lower run of which may slide along alerg'e 19 along the side of the trough, said sprocketchain passing around a sprocket-wheel 11, which, for instance, may be on the shaft 10, The parts will be proportioned so that a slow rotation will be given to the paddle-wheels, suflicient merely to move the stock slowly through the trough. The trough will be filled with water to about the water-line indicated on the drawings.

The stock is fed into the receiving end of the trough and is moved through the trough and water by the paddle-wheels. In the space between the paddle-wheels the sand and metal and other foreign material contained in the stock will settle by gravitation, and as it accumulates therein it gradually assumes the ridge form illustrated by 21, extending from one side of the trough to the other, the ridge consisting of the sand. metal, and other foreign material and such particles of rubber as may settle with the foreign substances, and by the time the stock reaches practically free'from such foreign particles ,ments by guarcs 27.

access is had thereto by removal of one or more of the paddle-wheels.

While not absolutely necessary, yet it is preferred to provide means for removing the accumulation of foreign material and rubber mixed therewith without removing the paddle-wheels and without stopping the operation of the machine. For that purpose dif ferent means may be employed. For instance, the bottom of the trough at the points where the material accumulates may be provided with gates 22, hinged in any suitable manner so as to be dropped to allow the accumulated material to drop into asuitable receptacle that will be provided to receive it. The preferred means, however, consists of a tube 23, extenred across the bottom of the trough at the points where the foreign material settles and accumulates. These tubes may be either stationary or revoluble and are each formed with an opening extending nearly the length thereof to receive the material from the sir e facing the moving stock. The tubes fit in concave-faced blocks 24, which form seats for the tubes. The tube 23, as illustrated, is a stationary tube having an opening 25 and provided with a sliding gate 26, which is guic ed in its move- The tube is closed at one end ano. open at the other, except as it is controlled at that end. by a gate 28, which. may be held. in place by a wed ge-key 29, fitting between the face of the gate and a rod 30, passing through keepers 31. The foreign material accumulates about the tube in the space between the pad(le'-wheels, and when to be removed the gate to the site opening in the tube is raised and the material passes into the tube, and after the gate is closed the en gate is opened and the material in tlte tube removed therefrom through the open end of the tube.

Instead of the stationary tube a revoluble tube 23 may be used, as illustratedv in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. This tube has a solid stationary head 23' at oneend, and its opposite end will be closed by a gate 23 similar to the gate to the stationary tube. The periphery of the head 23 is formed with recesses or notches 23, so that if any sand or foreign matter should. work its way between the surface of the tube and periphery of the hea it may in the rotation of the tube be worked into'the recesses, so as not to interfere with the easy working of the tube. Normally the tube will have the opening 23 in its side next to the concave-faced. block 23 so that no material can enter it. When the accumulated sand. and. metal or other foreign matter, inclufing particles of rubber mixed with it, is to be removed the tube is turned so as to bring its side opening next to the foreign material, when said material will be turned to itsclosed position and the end gate opened, so as to takeout the material.

In Fig. 10 is illustrated a modified form of .theinvention in which the trough is inclined and provided at suitable points with concavefaced blocks 32, which form dams for the water, at which points are located paddle-wheels 33. In the sides of the trough, adjacent to the paddle-wheels, are journ'aled shafts 84, which carry sprocket-wheels 35, around which pass sprocket-chains 36, carrying flights or blades 37, which serve to carry the stock from one paddle-Wheel to the other, the portions of said carrier next to the paddlewheels where the flights pass around the sprocket-wheels corresponding in function to the paddle-wheels and, together with the paddle-wheels, serving to act similarly to the series of paddle-wheels shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to allow the sand and metal and what rubber may be deposited therewith to settle and accumulate on the floor of the trough in the space between the flights of the carrier and the paddle-wheel, the accumulated material being designated by the numeral 38 The paddle-wheels and flight carrier will be slowly moved by sprocket-chains engaging sprockets onthe shafts in a similar manner to that described for the construction shown in Fig. 1, or otherwise, and therefore not necessary to illustrate. 1

Another modified form, Fig. 11, consists in arranging within thetrough 1 a number of flight carriers, each consisting of a set of shafts 39, provided with sprocket-wheels 40, around which pass sprocket-chains 41., provided with paddles orflights 42. The adj acent ends of the flight carriers correspond in function to the adjacent paddle-wheels in the preferred form of the device, and the sand and metal and other material mixed therewith will deposit on the trough-floor in the space between the adjacent ends of the flight .car-

' riers, the accumulated materialbeing designated by the numeral 43. The flights serve to carry the stock through the trough similarly to the paddle-Wheels of the first form described. It will thus be observed that the carrierflights are a modified form of the pad dlewheels. These carrier-flights will be .slowly moved by sprockets and chains connecting the several shafts at the outside of the trough similarly to the paddle-wheels, and illtstration of such means is therefore unnecessary.

Another modified form is illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings. In this form the trough is provided with a number of inclined platforms 44, ascending in the direction of the movement of the stock. At the lower end of each platformis ashaft 45, carrying sprocketsame pass sprocket-chains 49, which'are'provided with paddles or flights 50, which serve to carry the stock from the bottom to the top ofthe platform and discharge it into another compartment of the trough at the lower end of the next platform. The water-line is indicated on the drawings. The trough is divided by vertically-inclined partitions 51 into compartments, one for each flight conveyer and substantially the length of the conveyer. In this form the sand and metal will deposit and accumulate at the lowermost end of each compartment at the point where the lower end of one flight conveyer lies below the upper end of the preceding flight conveyerthat is, at the point 52. By such arrangement, by reason of the flights at the adjacent ends of the conveyers moving in opposite directions,-the stock is opened up, so that the sand and metal has an opportunit y to separate from the stock and deposit at the bottom of the trough below the oppositelytraveling flights of the conveyers. These flight conveyers may be revolved or caused to travel by means of chain and sprockets, as described and illustrated for the form shown in Fig. 1, or otherwise, and therefore need not be illustrated in detail.

While a sprocket-and-chain drive is sufli cient, yet any other well-known form of drivegearing may be employed Without departing from the invention. Any number of troughs maybe employed, and they may be arranged in any of the well-known ways for one trough to deliver its contents into another trough,

and as the same does not constitute theinvention the same does not need to be illustrated.

The deposits of sand, metal, and particles of rubber mixed therewith which are removed from the last or finishing trough may again be passed to the-first, second, or third trough, so as to separate the rubber stock' from the sand and metal; 1

'The trough and revolving paddle-wheels or flight conveyersmay be of any proportions to best suit the purposes. It has been found that a trough about seventy-five feet long, four feet wide, and fourteen inches in depth, with paddle-wheels having a diameter of twenty-four inches and blades with a depth of about two and one-half inches, with thirtytwo paddle-wheels in the trough making about siX revolutions per minute and with the paddles in their lowest position about one half an inchfrom the bottom of the trough and a water depth of about eleven inches, in

actual practice give most satisfactory results.

preferably be formed in sections, so -:as to be readilyzremoved when desired, and in case they be used -With the endless fiight or scraper type they -W ill-=extend .the .iwhole 5 length of the trough; but When used-With the paddle' vmheelitype they may be located beneath lthe. paddle wheels only.

In Fig. '13 is illustrated aa portion .of ca trough provided with:-.a false 1 bottom com- ,2 5 2'WiQll3lfliOf thetrough, orsubstantially-so.

LIIlS'Di-EfilChOffllSiIl'g perforated platesithe false bottom may be formed ofwvires =57, stretched across a suitable frame v58 (seeJF-igs517zand -18): of suitable: dimensions. For instance,

go each frame maybe .four feet square in-a trough: having '-.;the :endless: flight. -or scraper Ltype orztvvelve inches Widesand four feet long in'githe vpaddle-Wheel type. The Wires may run lengthwise .of .the trough or crosswise 5 thereof,.aspreferred-or foundbest'for the Work in hand. They may be drawn more or; -rless tautand in. contact. or spaced apart, so} asato permitfine-wsandto pass through be-f tween zthewires. If in contact, the: pressure 0 of theflights or blades against the Wires may causetemporary spaces to. exist between the wires for'the passage of the fine sand.

Having described invention 1 and J set;

forth its merits, What I claim :is

.ter, and revolving; members. carrying. blades -orflights,:Workingain proximity to the bot- "tom of l-the trough, to. move stock-through *thewtrough, and arranged in: relation to each otherrto leave spacestat the bottom of the *trough between adjacent members for a the deposit :ofzsarid and metal and'other substancessettlingbygravitation, the blades of 0116.'=II16IIlb6I"IIlOViI1giILtllB oppositedirection to'the blades'ofzthe other member where they describe-their. arc of rotation adjacent to each otherysubstantially as described.

2. Aniapparat us for removingsand, metal andother foreign substances'from Wasterubber, comprising a trough: for containing wa- :-ter,' and'rrevolvingmemberswcarryingblades orflighta'rWOrking in; proximity to the bot- .tom of the trough, to move stock through the and valve controlled. means for thGE IGIDOVELl .adjacent ,to thebottom of the trough for tthe'sdeposit'of sand, metal and other subblades of. the other member where. they detrough andrzarran'geda to deliver :stock from one member tothe member inadvance therestances, .the blades of one memberrmoving inztheopposite direction to the blades :ofthe othersmemberniwhere they describe. theirarc ofrotationn-adjacent to: each other, substantially as described.

.3. .Ana paratus formemovingsand,.metal andother foreign substancesfrom waste rubber, comprising-a trough for conta mng wa- .ter,.-revolv1ng members carrying blades L :or

flights'for movingstock through thetrough,

of the deposits of sand, metal andothersubstances! from the bottom .of the-trough,sswbst antially as described.

4. .An apparatusfor removingsand, metal 8 5 and other foreign substances frommasterubber, comprising a. trough for containing "W3.- ter, revolving members carrying .blades OI flights for moving stock. through the trough,

andaltube extendediacrossthe bottom ofthe .190 troughtand having-avalve'd :opening forwthe removal of deposits of sand, metal .and other --substances from the. trough, substantially as 1 described.

'5. .An apparatus for removing.sand,.metal.; q

and other foreignsubstances from Waste'rububer comprising:za trough: for containing-water, revolving members carrying blades or :flights'for moving stock through thetrough, a revoluble tube extending across the bottom I o 5 land other'forelgn substances from Waste rubber :com rising: a. tronghfor contain-ing wa ter, wan revolving paddle-Wheels having j their blades Working in proxinl-ityto the bet- 1. Anapparatus for removing-sand, metal and other foreign'substances'from Waste rub-j ber, comprisingia-xtrough for containing-Wa-i tom of the trough, for moving stockthrough the. trough, said Wheels being arranged in proximity to each other toileave spaces betweenadjacent paddle-Wheels for the deposit ofsand, metal and other substances inthe bottom' of the: trough between said wheels, 11 15 and other foreign substances from Wasterubber'comprisingi a trough for containing-Wa- -ter, revolving members carrying blades OIrIzC flights working in proximity to the bottom-of the troughto move sto ckthrough the trough, said: members being'arranged in -relation to each other to leave spaces between them stances on the bottom of the trough between said members, ithe blades of one member moving in the opposite direction 1 to 1 the scribe their are of rotation adjacent to each other, and an endless flight conveyer for delivering stock from the trough, substantially as described.

8. An a paratus for removing sand, metal and other oreign substances from waste rubber comprising a trough for containing water, revolving paddle-wheels, arranged in proximity to each other for moving stock through the trough and permitting the deposit of sand, metal and other substances between the wheels, tubes extending across the bottom of the trough and having valved openings for the removal of the deposits of sand, metal and other substances, and an inclined endless flight conveyer for delivering the stock from the trough, substantially" as described.

9. An apparatus for removing sand, metal and other foreign substances from waste rubber, comprising a trough for containing water, revolving members carrying blades or flights to move stock through the trough and arranged to deliver stock from one member to the member in advance thereof, with spaces between adjacent members for the deposit of sand, metal and other substances, and a false bottom to the trough formed with elongated. openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWVARD R. SOLLIDAY.

Witnesses:

J. 0. Ron, G. SEYFFERT. 

